The Integral Heart Foundation has been working full-time in Guatemala since 2010. Having successfully funded the opening of our center, we will now focus on fundraising for the operating costs of between $25-30,000 annually. We support the lives and education of 60 children and teenagers and their families. The education programs happening at 'La Academia' are Critical-Thinking, English, Spanish, History, Psychology, Homework Study, art, playtime and we provide breakfast, lunch and snacks daily.
There's Sandy, who used to sit malnourished on a dirt floor watching other kids go to school, wishing she had the chance. Now she does. There's Carmen, who was a modern day slave, scavenging a dump for recyclables. She's in school now and brings her 6-year-old brother Byron to study. And are 58 other children whose inspiring stories begin with someone's generosity. Most young children in Guatemala have no access to authentic intellectual stimulation; public schools only operate half day.
Stability is a key aspect in providing a solution to the wrath of poverty. Through our education center, The Integral Heart Foundation provides educational scholarships for 60 students to receive a compelling education and break out of a viscous cycle of generational poverty. At the center they receive three healthy meals every day. After school, they participate in the following after school programs: Critical-Thinking, English, Spanish, History, Psychology, Homework Study, Art, and Playtime!
Most important to their success is that they are given love, individual attention, and dependable adults in their life who they can count on. They have someone who they can show their grades who will say, "I'm proud of you." Our older students, when graduated will have gone through our teacher training course to pass on their wisdom to younger students-Guatemalans solving the problems of Guatemala. Our dream is to enable our students' dreams and with your help we can all make that happen.
